Contact: Tom Evenson
(608) 266-2839
Madison, Wisconsin — Governor Scott Walker released his Weekly Radio Address today titled “Wisconsin’s Rural Schools Agenda.”
Hi, Scott Walker here.
Every child deserves access to a quality education which provides them with the knowledge and the tools they need to succeed, regardless of where they live.
Rural schools face a unique set of challenges. That’s why our original state budget plan included major boosts for Wisconsin’s rural school districts on top of the $11.5 billion we are providing K-12 education, which is the highest actual dollar amount for K-12 funding in state history.
We provided increased funding for High-Cost Transportation Aid, so families can get their kids to school to focus on learning rather than stressing over high transportation costs. And we will continue to expand broadband to provide more schools and students with access to fast, reliable internet service.
Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Jeff Mursau are introducing a bill that incorporates initiatives from our original budget proposal to help rural schools. The proposed bill would increase per-student Sparsity Aid for qualifying school districts from $300 up to $400 for the 2018-19 school year that will help offset the challenges faced by low-population rural schools. It also creates a second tier of Sparsity Aid by providing an additional $100 per pupil for districts with 746-1,000 pupils.
We know that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. We are pleased Senator Marklein and Representative Mursau are leading the way to increase aids for rural schools on top of our historic investments in K-12 education.
